It is understood that Wallace – who works with Street on NZME”s The Hits radio station and who holds roles including Breakfast weatherman is well liked and assured a place on Seven Sharp if he wanted it. He is regarded as a telleenic young face for the network. He will likely lead a shift back to even lighter content on the magazine show, sources say.

The other alternative is Jack Tame who has not really worked with Hillary Barry on Breakfast.

Yesterday, TVNZ announced:

Tomorow’s last Seven Sharp show for 2017 will bring a close to Toni Street and Mike Hosking’s four years co-hosting the country’s most watched 7pm weeknight programme.

John Gillespie, TVNZ’s Head of News and Current Affairs, says: “Toni and Mike are stepping down. They’re a dynamic team and together they’ve been a mainstay of New Zealand’s evening viewing for several years. Their leadership at 7pm has been a defining force in our media landscape.”

Street said: “This decision has not come easy for me, but with two young children, I want to be home more often in the evenings for them. Seven Sharp has been my dream job, I’ve absolutely loved my four years with Mike on the show,” she says. “It’s been a privilege to be part of such a professional, fun and supportive team. I’m really proud of our success and grateful to have been welcomed into the homes of so many New Zealanders.”

Street, who was named TV Personality of the Year at the 2017 NZ TV Awards, will be taking up new presenting opportunities with TVNZ in the year ahead. “I’m really excited to be hosting the Commonwealth Games and the New Zealander of the Year Awards for TVNZ in 2018 and I look forward to working on other projects with my TVNZ family including within news and current affairs,” she says.

Mike Hosking says, “This was particularly important to me personally, to honour what has been one of the best combinations on television. Given we started together we end together. It is also always good to leave on your own terms and at your own time, often a rare trick in media.”

Seven Sharp will have a new presenting line-up when it returns next year after the holiday break. Viewers won’t be waiting long to find out who will be hosting, says TVNZ. A follow-up announcement is expected in January.

On July 21, I wrote in my column in the NZ Herald:

The other change being talked about is at Seven Sharp, where there has been speculation that TVNZ is considering using Mike Hosking in some other way. Seven Sharp still reliably beats TV3’s The Project, but I believe the TVNZ show looks too old for a young audience, as targeted by The Project.

While Hosking has been away, his role has been filled by Jack Tame and Sam Wallace.

Gillespie says he can’t discuss the nature of Hosking’s contract and whether he is contracted to work on Seven Sharp next year.

As for Sam Wallace, “We are just going through exactly what he does. We also see him sitting across several shows.

“I am not looking to make any major changes,” says Gillespie, “but in the months to come, if changes need to be made we will make them.” Asked if there was any prospect of using Hosking for a simulcast of Breakfast, Gillespie said: “It’s not something I am looking at.” news boss John Gillespie says,

As for Hosking I understand that there are plans for the New Year, possibly involving the Newstalk ZB breakfast host also aking a role in the TVNZ breakfast show, continuing the long runninng relation ship between. TVNZ and NZME